20 Secrets To Becoming Rich in Your 20s

I bet you’re asking questions like, “how to get rich in your 20s” or “how to build wealth in your 20s”?

I know, the thought of saving money and building wealth doesn’t come to mind when you’re in your 20s. But, did you know the sooner you change your mindset about money, the sooner you can become wealthy and live comfortably?

Just imagine…

The feeling of being debt-free.

The ability to fork out $1,000 when your car breaks down.

The ability to freely spend $150 on a special dinner with your partner.

Not to mention, the guilt-free feeling of paying $2 extra for guac at your next Chipotle trip.

Overall, just imagine the feeling of freedom without having to worry about living paycheck to paycheck.

YES, YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL!

Building wealth in your 20s doesn’t mean you have to give up fun and live a boring life.

Heck, no!

You just need to know how to prioritize, save, invest, manage your money, and make money in your 20s. To truly become wealthy, you’ll first have to change your mindset about money.

Debt avalanche method vs. the debt snowball method:

For those who don’t know, this is called the debt avalanche method. With this approach, you’ll save the most time and money.

However, some studies show that paying off the smallest debt amount first (despite the amount of interest rate) works better for most people — the debt snowball method. That’s because the latter approach creates motivation and momentum.

Personal Finance guru, Dave Ramsey says:

“The math seems to lean more toward paying the highest interest debts first, but what I have learned is that personal finance is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior. You need some quick wins in order to stay pumped enough to get out of debt completely.”

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6) Investing in your 20s to build equity.

As mentioned in my previous point, building assets in your 20s and starting early is key.

To become rich in your 20s, you need to start investing as early as possible!

You need to meet Mr. Compound Interest because he will always be by your side, so befriend him as soon as you can!

If you don’t believe me, read my post on how compound interest can make you rich. I know you won’t regret reading this post because, by the time you’re done, you’d wish you took advantage of him sooner!

You will learn about his power and ability to make you rich with no effort from your end!

7) Plan for retirement.

I know what you’re thinking…

No, you’re not too young (though you’re still young). But, it’s never too early to plan for retirement!

The earlier you start (i.e. in your 20s and 30s), the easier it becomes. And no, I’m not saying it’s easy because it’s not, especially in the beginning. But, I promise that it will start feeling like second nature when you form the right saving habits!

8) Automate your finances.

You are a busy person and have no time for the small administrative task such as manually paying your bills and contributing to your investment accounts.

Your time is precious and it’s better spent on activities that give you higher returns. That includes investing in yourself and acquiring financial literacy. Let’s not forget, nothing beats spending time with your loved ones!

With that said, you need to automate your savings, bills, and investments!

This book will give you the baby steps to set up your finances without depriving yourself. This is another one of my favorite books and I know you will love it because he holds your hand throughout the entire book!

Let your finances run on autopilot so that you can focus on becoming rich in your 20s. 😉

Click on the book to learn how to be rich!

Use Trim to help you save money!

Trimis an awesome tool if you want to save money without putting in any effort!

9) Save money on your lunch.

I honestly have so much passion when I talk about this point.

You don’t understand how much money I saved just by bringing my own lunch! All that money saved was worth it because the thousands of dollars (I call them my little employees) are working for me and they continue to grow in my investment accounts. Hint: To put things into perspective, that’s about $16,000 BEFORE any returns on investments.

I’ve been packing my own lunch since I started work in 2011 and it has saved me at least $3,000 per year (except for 2015 which I talk about next)! This is based on the fact that when I do buy, I tend to buy lunches that are over $12 because anything under that is generally unhealthy.

In 2015 when I moved out of my parents’ home, I spent at least $12 to $13 on lunch every single day! Even my cheapest lunch was $10! My parents knew that was pretty expensive, so they insisted on my fiance and me to get our lunches from them because they always had so many leftovers from dinner. Hint: they usually throw it out, anyway. 🙁

How to save money and make your lunch taste awesome!

I know that most of you don’t like bringing your lunch because leftovers never taste good when it’s popped in the microwave. I totally get it!

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10) Adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The saying goes, “no health, no wealth.”

What’s the point of being wealthy if you’re not healthy?

Living a rich life is more than just having a huge bank account. To be honest, when I’m feeling unhealthy, I’m very unhappy. And that’s usually when I missed at least three weeks of working out and eating healthy. 🙁

So, even if you had all the money in the world, that wouldn’t make you feel any better. With that said, it’s important to take care of your health while building your wealth. Without it, you’re not in the state to build and manage your wealth.

To make sure that I’m healthy on a regular basis, I usually do cardio on my treadmill. It’s awesome and I really enjoy working out at home! Not because it saves money (though it really does), but because it saves a lot of time! On top of that, I’m 90% introverted so I like my alone time. I’m also shy in an outside setting and that’s why I avoid the gym – ha!

I personally use this AFG Sport Treadmill to save time and money. I honestly cannot live without my treadmill because it de-stresses me and keeps me motivated and focused on my life goals!

11) Look for a DIY version.

While you’re still young and in your 20s, take advantage of learning almost anything!

Before you purchase something, ask yourself if there is a lower-cost alternative or if you can DIY. It’s okay to hire the pros so that you can save time on the complicated tasks. But, for the most part, you can seriously SAVE SO MUCH money by learning and having fun with DIY. Not everything will appeal to you, but you can choose the things that pique your interest.

By the way, when I talk about DIY, I’m not talking about rewiring your electricals at home, or any dangerous job that requires a professional. I’m talking about things such as:

The answer is simple: They don’t want to choose. Too many choices lead to decision fatigue.

In the article link above, Obama said:

“I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.”

And here’s what Zuckerberg said:

“I really want to clear my life to make it so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve this community.”

What they say makes sense. When you’re bombarded with too many decisions such as what to wear, what to eat, where to put your stuff, etc., you’re using too much brain power and wasting time that could’ve been better spent elsewhere. For example, that time could be better spent on a side hustle to help you earn extra money or beefing up your financial knowledge to improve your financial situation.

With that said, choosing to live a more minimal lifestyle will improve your wealth and health by reducing chaos. Think about all the money you wasted on things that you don’t even use. Not to mention, I bet that clutter at home is driving you nuts!

13) Become a landlord.

This only applies to you if you plan to buy a house or if you already own a house. By the way, buying a home is not always better than renting, so please don’t think that I’m implying that.

We decided to buy our home and we have to say that renting our separate unit helps A LOT with our living expenses! It also gives us the experience to become landlords — a great opportunity for those who plan to buy more rental properties in the future. Again, the earlier you start, the more experience you’ll have down the road.

To get started, read these articles from BiggerPockets about becoming a landlord:

With that said, if you want to be rich in your 20s, start reading more often! Even if you’re past your 20s, you can start now! There’s no better time to start than right now!

Want to start reading more to beef up your knowledge?

Download your FREE Kindle reading app by Amazon and start reading all of your favorite books in one place — your mobile, desktop, or Kindle device. And no, you don’t need the Kindle device to take advantage of this free app!

You may not read as much as Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, but at least enough to enhance your financial literacy. Again, reading and self-development will make you wealthy in your 20s (or any age).

“Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.” — Warren Buffett

15) Never stop learning.

On top of reading and gaining insights from the best-selling authors, you can learn from other experts. Many people think that the only time they’ll learn is in school. That is so untrue!

There are so many things that you can learn outside of the school setting! For example, I mentioned earlier that you can learn how to DIY certain things such as refurbishing furniture and looking for inspiration on Pinterest. Whatever sparks your interest, go for it! Not to mention, these are awesome ideas for a no-spend weekend as well.

Since I started investing in myself, I was able to save at least 60% of my paychecks because I’ve been too preoccupied with learning new things. That includes fixing furniture, dealing with tenant issues, learning how to make extra money on the side, reading books, as well as starting this blog!

16) Take risks.

I’ve mentioned this point so many times and I’ll keep mentioning it because I really believe in it!

Many young people are too afraid of taking risks. I completely understand how they feel because I was one of them too. I probably still am but getting much better at it!

People want too many things without putting in the time and effort. They also want high returns without taking any risks! But you need to understand that there’s no such thing as high returns without taking some risks!

The earlier you start, such as in your 20s, the more time you’ll have to recoup any losses. It’s similar to investing in growth stocks — the younger you are, the more volatility you can withstand!

I say this a lot because you don’t want to regret in your 50s that you didn’t take enough risks. I took this advice from my parents and their baby boomer friends. In the end, it’s a matter of taking calculated risks and again, please know that nothing is guaranteed. But ask yourself, what’s the worst that can happen?

17) Adopt a rich mindset in your 20s.

Speaking of taking risks, studies show that the rich become rich because they are able to take calculated risks.

Being able to get uncomfortable starts off with your mind and how you think. Rich people view it as an opportunity whereas the masses automatically view it as a guaranteed failure or loss. As a result, the masses either give up too soon or they don’t even bother to try. Again, nothing is guaranteed but to increase your chances of becoming rich, you need to first believe. Once you believe (your rich mindset), your actions will follow. When you take action, you’ll stand a chance of winning.

Yes, it’s easier said than done because if you haven’t noticed, the hardest part is changing the way you think. Most people’s minds are lopped-sided and aren’t open to the opposite view.

Some of you who are reading this point will disagree and that’s where I have to bluntly say that you likely have the masses’ mindset. By the way, there’s nothing wrong with that because everyone is different. I can respect those who value security and I understand how they feel.

On the other hand, if you’re able to resonate with this point, you likely have a rich mindset so you will stand a chance of becoming rich — as long as you take action.

18) Do not rely on any inheritance.

If you ever want to become rich, do yourself a favor and stop thinking about an inheritance.

Studies show that those who win the lottery or receive a windfall become poor.

To become rich, you need to rely on yourself and no one else. Know that there will not be any ships to come save you, so you’ll have to start building one in your 20s. Again, the younger you start, the better off you become because you’ll have more energy and time to build one from scratch. You need to realize that those are valuable assets (energy and time) when you’re young. So, instead of taking your assets for granted, start taking advantage of them!

19) Surround yourself with those who are better than you.

Let go of your ego and acknowledge that there are (and will be) people who are smarter and better than you. Instead of wasting your time and energy gossiping about them or being jealous of them, you seriously need to start learning from them.

Tony Robbins says you’re the average of the five people you hang around, so start surrounding yourself with those who are better than you!

If you don’t have any friends who aspire to become rich or wealthy (like how I don’t), start stuffing info and facts about rich people in your head. For example, I follow Warren Buffett because he’s very inspiring. The more you read and learn about high achievers, the more you’ll want to mimic their behaviors. Though I won’t become a Warren Buffet, I’ll still be able to improve my life by following his wisdom.

20) Broke today, rich tomorrow.

If you read Robert Kiyosaki’s book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, you’ll notice that he says, “Broke is temporary, poor is eternal.”

If you’re still in your 20s, it’s okay to be broke today because you’ll become rich tomorrow (as long as you start adopting habits of the rich). Just don’t use the term “poor” on yourself, LOL! And speaking of Rich Dad Poor Dad, I highly recommend this book. It’s a book that I wish I read earlier because I really believe it would’ve changed my life sooner!

21) Don’t forget to live the moment in your 20s.

I know you came here to read how to become rich in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or even 50s. But here’s one thing you need to realize.

Being rich isn’t just about how much money you have or how successful your business becomes.

Though it helps you live a better life (because you don’t have to worry about money), the progress of getting there will be a VERY long journey — it will take up almost your entire life!

With that said, it’s important to still enjoy the little things throughout your wealth-building journey. That includes spending time with your family, traveling the world to learn about different cultures, and/or watching your favorite sports team with your friends. It could even be something as simple as sipping on your favorite latte at Starbucks while doing nothing. These are all rich experiences that a vault full of money can never buy!

Most of us get so preoccupied with getting out of debt or building wealth for our future that we forget to live in the moment! Like I said, having balance is key to living a rich life. So, while you’re all trying to become rich or financially independent, don’t forget other aspects of your life. Learn to have fun and live in the moment! We are blessed with this present, so don’t take it for granted. 🙂

Over To You

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33 Comments

Minimize lifestyle inflation. The most dangerous time is when your income increased suddenly like when you get your first good job. Suddenly, you have plenty of money to spend. Most people increase their standard of living right away and that’s a mistake. It’s really difficult to cut back once you’re used to a nicer lifestyle. Take it slow. Minimalism is good, but it’s not for everyone.

Yes, lifestyle inflation is very dangerous and a lot of people don’t notice nor realize. It’s important to maintain your lifestyle if you want to build wealth. Upgrades to life are great, but I’m sure doing it excessively doesn’t change the level of happiness.

Also, you’re right that becoming 100% minimalistic isn’t for everyone — that’s not for me either. But I notice I have some stuff lying around my house that I forgot about or don’t use, so it’s good to sell some stuff for extra cash.

Not to mention, after when I sold off a lot of my clothes (I had A LOT), it was easier for me to pick outfits without thinking or deciding too much haha! It improved my life so much!

Thanks for featuring us! You always put together such an awesome, comprehensive post! That mini crock pot looks cool. Mrs. DS wants an instant pot, but you probably already know that haha. ( I missed the memo)

If you’re still in your 20s then good for you for having great focus so young.

I wish I had been more aware in my 20s – at 25, I had a net worth >$250,000 (and I was eating lunch out every day). Had I been smarter about it, I’d likely have passed FI/RE status by now and could have retired by 30. We’re not “struggling” by any means today, but we’ve pushed the FI/RE date out probably by a decade.

A great list for sure!! If I would have known better, my financial situation during my 20s would have been much better if I went by this list. I was deep into student loans and going out to eat everyday during my lunch breaks. But it’s better I recognized my financial faults in my 30s than to totally ignore it going into my 40s and maybe my 50s.

I hear a lot of people in their 30s and 40s regret not starting earlier. They definitely serve as time machines for the 20 year old. Unfortunately, most won’t take advantage of it because they are too young to understand a 30 or 40 year old’s life struggles haha… but for those who listen, they will be set for life!

A lot of this comes down to habits and #18 really hits on something most people don’t realize – you’re a lot like the people you hang out with. The things you do, the hobbies you’re interested in, etc — it’s the whole, you’re the average of the 5 people you hang out with, but it has a big impact on you financially. If those people like hiking, it’s going to be far cheaper than if they like going to bars and eating at expensive restaurants.

That advice is something I didn’t listen to because I didn’t even know it existed haha! It was my fault for not googling “how to become successful” or “how to be rich” during my younger years — I was too naive and immature to understand lol.

And yes, I know what you mean by the different groups of people you hang out with. I was friends with a group who only loves to spend money ($0 savings) and it was hard for me to keep up. But it comes down to knowing how to say no. In the end, everything is a choice!

Not relying on an inheritance to make you wealthy reminds me that I need to count on myself rather than others. The best part is that I am in control. If I am relying on an inheritance, it may or may not come at all. I just don’t want to imagine me waiting for an inheritance for 30 years and then there will be nothing when the time comes. By that time, it’s too late to start building wealth.

Number 20 is something I feel that a lot of people miss — sometimes myself included and that’s why I really wanted to mention it here.

This took me a while and I feel like I still need to make some tweaks. I’m not the greatest writer like other people, so it took me about 2 days to write. 3 if you include finding images, inserting resource links, and making minor changes.

Lol, I know that doesn’t sound appealing when you read about how other bloggers spend only 1 to 2 hours to write amazing content. But, I’m just being honest about how long it took me!

It’s never too late to start! You’re still young. Plus, you’ve already started and you’re doing fantastic!

I regret so many things too but the most important part is staying focused with what we need to do now to improve our lives going forward! Remeber, we still have soo many years ahead since we haven’t lived half of it yet 😊

Happy Friday Night! We made it my friend! Thank you again for the shout-out. Health = Wealth and we are our biggest assets!

I really want to use the trim app…for work…do you think it can negotiate me my own office space? Negotiate pay raises?! Worth a shot right? Or, let’s work on developing the right app that will do that. Oh – we will be rich! ~ in Asian professor accent.

I’m so glad you’ve written this post. When I was 19 I was given a huge sum of money and (of course) I wasted it on a whole bunch of holidays and clothes and food. Literally tens of thousands of pounds. Naturally I then adopted a new mindset and have been much savier with my spending since!

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About Finsavvy Panda

Welcome to Finsavvy Panda!I love everything about saving, investing, earning, and building net worth. I’m all for flexibility and balance, so I’d love ❤ to help you do all of this without having to deprive yourself! Since Oct 2016, my boyfriend and I have been working towards freeing ourselves from corporate bullsh!t to become financially independent. If you want to hop on the happiness boat, come join us!